[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut":3,"chapter-starting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut-starting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut-chapter-26":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting from the Battlefield: Gathering Attributes to Build the All-Heavens Ming Dynasty",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2341833,4577,"Chapter 26: Beneath the Night Sky: A Plan Against the Tartars!","starting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut-chapter-26",26,"\u003Cp>Northern Frontier!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jianzhou Tartar territory, Blue Banner Tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night has fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside this Blue Banner Tribe, many Tartar night patrols can be seen, clearly on guard against a sudden Ming attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the night sky,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a cavalry unit quietly approached the Blue Banner Tribe, moving with minimal noise and keeping a considerable distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Garrison Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We just captured two prisoners—they’re Tartar night patrol scouts from this tribe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Lei led his personal guards, dragging two Tartars before Zhu Ying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhu Ying and the surrounding Ming soldiers,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the two Tartars looked terrified, yet deep in their eyes lingered hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I ask, you answer,” Zhu Ying said to the two Tartars kneeling on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill us if you will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You damned Ming dogs—someday, our people will crush your Ming realm alongside the Great Yuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Tartar spat out angrily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ying had no patience for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His war saber drew from its sheath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood sprayed—the Tartar’s head fell to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slain Tartar foot soldier: +20 Strength.” System prompt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I ask, you answer,” Zhu Ying turned to the remaining Tartar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I’ll answer,” the Tartar soldier said in terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many troops does this tribe have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many people?” Zhu Ying asked directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our chieftain has been mobilizing troops these past days—our tribe now has over thirty thousand soldiers. This tribe is our people’s pastureland, with nearly a hundred thousand souls scattered around the surrounding areas,” the Tartar soldier, terrified of death, blurted out without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is your chieftain’s next plan? When will he launch an attack on our Great Ming?” Zhu Ying asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The chieftain ordered the tribe to focus entirely on defense—no offensive actions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the exact… exact reason, I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… but the Great Yuan has already mobilized and will send reinforcements to our tribe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That… that’s all I know, my lord…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tartar soldier knelt on the ground, trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a sharp crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ying slashed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slain Tartar foot soldier: +20 Spirit.” System prompt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Zhu Ying act so decisively,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>all five Battalion Commanders regarded him with awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such ruthless decisiveness was utterly incongruous with Zhu Ying’s young age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>leaving no survivors was correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main Ming army that had invaded the Northern Frontier had already moved toward Liaodong; only five thousand troops remained here. Keeping survivors alive would be betraying the lives of their own comrades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gentlemen, what are your thoughts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ying sheathed his saber and looked at the five Battalion Commanders before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One familiar face: Wei Quan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three were new to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One named Li Tao, one named Zhuang Wei, and another named Luo Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Battalion Command he originally commanded, Zhu Ying had entrusted Zhang Wu to temporarily lead it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Garrison Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In my view, our forces need only roam within Tartar territory to draw their attention.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once we complete the delaying mission, we can retreat back to the Ming,” Battalion Commander Li Tao said immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Battalion Commander speaks too lightly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our forces have already penetrated over a hundred li into the Northern Frontier—if we could simply turn back whenever we wished, this mission wouldn’t be so perilous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roaming here is tantamount to seeking death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you truly believe the Tartars won’t act? Do you truly believe the Northern Yuan won’t move?” Zhang Wu glanced at Li Tao with a hint of mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what do you suggest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have only five thousand troops—can we really launch an offensive against this Tartar tribe?” Li Tao retorted angrily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very moment he spoke in anger,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ying spoke: “Passive defense is not my way. Initiative is the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Garrison Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You just heard what the Tartar said.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This tribe has over thirty thousand troops—even our Ming cavalry’s strength cannot hope to fight several-to-one, can it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An offensive would be suicide,” Li Tao said, his face paling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ying glanced at Li Tao, said nothing more, and simply stood still, waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhu Ying ignore him, Li Tao’s face darkened with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But bound by rank, he dared not retaliate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the night sky,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a dozen cavalrymen returned on horseback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Reporting, Garrison Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve thoroughly reconnoitered the Tartar tribe’s situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Squad Leader of scouts stepped forward to report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How?” Zhu Ying asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though this is a large tribe, it is divided into five sections.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The one directly ahead of us is the southern section—the barrier protecting the main Tartar tribe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the other three directions, each has a smaller supporting tribe,” the scout Squad Leader said respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems these barbarians have learned some military tactics.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By placing four tribes at each cardinal point, if one is attacked, the others can swiftly reinforce and ensure the main tribe remains secure,” Zhu Ying said with quiet admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Garrison Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s our next move?” Zhang Wu asked Zhu Ying respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Battalion Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ying turned to Li Tao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Garrison Commander, what are your orders?” Li Tao replied reluctantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he resented Zhu Ying—a boy so young holding the rank of Garrison Commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since Li Battalion Commander is so eager to retreat to Danning, I’ll grant your wish,” Zhu Ying said sternly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?” Li Tao frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In one hour,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“you lead your troops to harass the southern Tartar tribe. Create chaos, draw their attention—ideally, lure them out to chase you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you complete this mission, if you wish to remain in the Northern Frontier, it counts as merit; if you wish to withdraw, I won’t charge you with desertion—merit and offense cancel out.” Zhu Ying stared coldly at Li Tao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He showed no goodwill; Zhu Ying wouldn’t coddle him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he wanted to retreat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Zhu Ying would let him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he wouldn’t get any credit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Tao stared at Zhu Ying for a long moment: “Garrison Commander truly means to lead the men to their deaths?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m giving you a choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stay or withdraw?” Zhu Ying snapped coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since the Garrison Commander says so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I naturally choose to withdraw—I won’t let my men die for nothing,” Li Tao said at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have all you Battalion Commanders heard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The choice given to Li Battalion Commander, I offer to you as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you do not wish to stay, you may raid and then withdraw.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those who choose to stay will earn great merit upon our triumphant return,” Zhu Ying said, looking at Luo Hua, Zhuang Wei, and the other Battalion Commanders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We swear to follow the Garrison Commander to our deaths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Quan, Luo Hua, Zhang Wu, and Zhuang Wei said at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ying nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave Li Tao a long, piercing look, then issued his order: “Li Tao, listen: in one hour, raid the Tartar tribe. If you disobey military orders or waste the opportunity, I will hold you accountable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1161,"2026-06-20T23:30:09.614Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a0aea42765e2c5aa9ea657dcdae8c9a0db304c78215bd3cab8e4026738922f43","starting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut-chapter-27","starting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut-chapter-25",204,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut-cover.jpg"]